Nonskid chain for auto wheels



jan. 9

W. F. SCHWIESOW NONSKID CHAIN Fok AUTO WHEELS Filed Feb. 9, 1925 Patented el. l5. EQ2@ WILLIAM r. sonora, on Biron, .wrsconsrn NONSKID CHAIN FOR AUTO WMS.

Application tiled February 9, 1923. Serial No. 617,927.

To all whom 'it' may concern;

Be it known that l, WILLIAM F. Sorrwrnsow, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Ripon, in the county of Fond du Lac and State 'of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nonskid Chains for Auto `Wheels; and l do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

This' invention relates to non-skid chains for automobile tires.

Objects of this invention are to provide` a tire chain in which the.v individual links of the chain lie flat upon the tire and do not have any portion projectingi into and indenting the tire, in which the esired ade made while such side chains are in place,

be easily and cheaply replaced, and in which a minimum number of joints are formed.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyin drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side e evation of a tire, showing the non-skid chain in position thereon. Figure 2 is a view showing one of the lags laid out straight.`

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the adjustable coupling for tightening the chains, such of Figure 2 that these 1:.

view being partly in section.

Figure It 1s a detailof the joint between succeive-links of the side chains.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it will be seen that the non-skid chain comprises a pair of side chains which may be duplicates, each formed of a plurality of links having an elongated body portion 1, with a flat eyelet 2 of relatively large extent, formed at one end thereof and slightlyA spaced from the side plane3 of the tire, as may be clearly seen from Figures 1 and 4. The other end of each of thelinks is piro-` vided with a relatively smaller eyelet 4,. which is yturned at right angles to the plane of the link and projects laterally outwardly from the plane of the tire, as may be seen from Figure 4. These links form, in eEect, side bars, which are joined in such a manner that no portion projects into or indents the side of the tire. Each of the eyelets 2 earries one end ofthe lags 5, such lags extending transversely of the tire from one side chain to the other, lying Hat upon the tire and curving to conform to the curvature of the tire. lt will be noted from an inspection w: 5 are formed prefustment for tightening the side-chains may be seen from Figureft, also are spaced from l the side plane of the tire and do not indent the tire.

It is particularly to be noted that a minimum of joints are formed by this construc tion and that the portions receiving the greatest wear, that is to say, the lags 5, are

the most cheaply formed part of the non-skid chain, as they may be made from a single piece of crimped relatively stiff wire and may, therefore, be readily replaced at` a minimum of expense. i

In order to provide for the tightening or adjustment of the side chains, a tightening member consisting essentially of two sna fasteners 7 and 8, is interposed in the si e chains. The snap fasteners 7 and 8 are adapted to hook, respectively, into terminal eyelet 2, and into a ring 9 passed through the relatively smaller terminal eyelet 4, as may be seen from Figure 1. The snap fasteners are joined by an adjustin bolt 10,-which is threaded into an elongate portion 11 of the snap fastener 7 and which is swivelly joined to the snap fastener 8 by the cylindrical headed portion 12 ofthe bolt. A nut 13 may be secured to the bolt in any"'suitable manner, or may be formed integral therewith so as to provide, readily accessible means for either holding the body stillxl while the nut 14 is rotated or for rotating such body portion. A lock nut 14 is threaded upon the bolt and bears upon the face of the elongated portion 11.

rFhis type of tightener is particularly advantageous for use in side chains, as it may be readily attached at each end to the chains, and as it may be mostV readily adjusted without removing it from the chains, due to the swivel and threaded connection of the bolt with the respective snap fasteners.

It will be seen that a non-skid chain has been provided in which the portions of the chain lie fiat upon the surface of the tire and do not indent the tire or undul abrade it.' It will also be seen that a minimum of joints are provided, and that consequently the danger of wearing through at the joints is materially reduced.

It is to be noted that the transverse lags are single unitary members and are not joined. This construction minimizes wear ico as there are no sliding joints between theparts of the lags. Further it will be seen that the crimping of these lags is such as to produce widely open V-shaped crimps, This formation prevents the catching of Weeds, grass and trash generally in the orimps, as would be the case Where the sides contract or approach closely to each other.

It is to be understood that although one specific forrn'of the invention has been described in considerable detail, the invention may take various forms and is to be limited only as set forth'in the appended claim.

I claim: F

A non-skid tire chain, comprising a pair of side chains adapted to be positioned upon opposite sides of a tire, and a series of lags A*joining said side chains and memes assing transversely over said tire, said si e chains each comprising a series of links having fiat eyelets at one end adapted to roughly parallel the sides of the tire and each being slightly spaced from the plane of the body portion of the corresponding link and having smaller eyelets at the other end turned at right angles to the plane of said flat eyelets and interlinked therewith and projecting outwardly from the plane of said links.

In testimony that l claim the foregoing ll have hereunto set my hand at Ripon, in the county of Fond du Lac, and State of Wisconsin.

WILLIAM F. SCHWIESOW. 

